Sometimes I get a hit on my website from someone across the country who is just googling SPD, or sensory processing disorder, or ADD. There are some great sites out there of moms who are diligent in their research, advocacy and answers and share it all on the web. I sometimes occasionally will mention some situations we are going through, and provide a few links here, but I have intentionally avoided detailing much of our boys challenges as anything but typical.

You see, WE know, that compared to our past life with Joshua and all of his special needs, we do lead a much more typcal life now.

When we had Joshua in our life, there was no question that he was a special needs child and we had a different life. We had special needs friends, and a special needs community and support group. He had a rare genetic difference and there were some obvious challenges that he would be facing throughout his life.

Over the past 6 years, it has been a totally different dynamic.  Having kids with behavior challenges is not more difficult, but it is just different, because others cannot understand or relate.

I do believe we have seen and will continue to see incredible healing. Thank you God, healing. Whether it be a small victory, or an unexplained miracle, God’s hand is in all of it. We know the root is auditory processing, which can be dramatically improved with therapy as they mature.

God has provided answers to us, healthy alternatives to meds, and schools that were designed specifically for them. He has opened the door for us to homeschool, or to pursue some new computer program, or to just run into another parent that may have  a great suggestion. Sometimes He just provided another mom that was going through similar situations.

 and I knew that she knew what I was going through on a daily basis.

My goal here is always to encourage. Hopefully, if someone does find thier way to my site, they will find hope and encouragement. They will just read a little excerpt and know that I know what they are going through. They will see a light and keep on pressing on. Maybe they will even find assuredness that God is there with them in their situation, and they will ask Him into their heart.

It has been a process over the past few years for me to find a new skin and see where we fit in.

One of the changes we slowly had to consider along the way was finding  a new church. We really loved our church. It was a good hike across town, but we loved our friends and the message and the mission. But we did not love the way it was overwhelming our son. He has such a difficult time with large groups, loud noises and especially flashing lights. So every Sunday, was THE MOST difficult day of the week for us. He would be very emotional all day. Even a walk through the lobby was just too much, and he would take off running. I cannot count the amount of times that I would lose my son at church, in a crowd of 1600.

Like a needle in a haystack.

Well, a moving, darting needle.

He did not really need to be in a special needs room. He just needed a less-stimulating environment. I think there are quite a few kids out there that have these same needs. It was really affecting the dynamics of our family and our ability to worship God together peacably.

After making the transition, I realized that after all the calamity of the past few years, I really needed the calmness too. As I get older, I have become more sensitive to stimulating environments myself. And I really wanted to find a closer place that I would be just as comfortable when I was 50, and 60 and even 80. I longed to build lifelong small-group relationships with peers in our community that intimately knew us and our kids. We were going to have to come a little closer to home.

I am thankful for all of our situations in life. That is one of the things I try to impart to ladies when I speak. Gratefulness IN and THROUGH our circumstances. I know there is a purpose to everything, and one of the benefits of going through a time where you feel alone, even surrounded by good friends, is that God is just calling you back to a closer walk with Him. In making the decision, we could not worry about what others thought or felt. Very few others really knew our situation but us.

And God.

It is pretty exciting to make a new decision, and know that you re following His lead. even when it may not make sense to others.

We have recently had some pretty calm and enjoyable sunday afternoons with the boys.

Still wild and impulsive, on-the-roof, digging holes kinda afternoon.

But enjoyable, just the same.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 18th, 2008 at 8:24 pm and is filed under boys, christianity, friendship, hope, parenting, relationships, sensory processing disorder, special needs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.